PRESIDENTIAL Anti-Poverty Adviser Larry Gadon did not hold back during President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s 3rd State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, July 28, as he took a swipe at the Duterte family and the Supreme Court (SC).
Gadon, who previously backed the Dutertes in the 2016 and 2022 national elections, accused the country’s highest court of being nothing more than a puppet of the former president and his family.
Speaking to reporters after attending Sona 2025, Gadon criticized the SC’s recent decision junking the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, which he claims shows favoritism.
“Halata na itong Supreme Court is just siding with Sara, ako dinisbar ako for much lesser offense, samantalang si Sara katakot-takot na pagmumura. Katakot-takot na pagbabanta ng pagpatay ginawa niya hindi siya dinidisbar. Ang Supreme Court talaga tuta ng mga Duterte,” Gadon furiously said.
(It’s obvious that the Supreme Court is siding with Sara. I was disbarred for much lesser offenses, while Sara has cursed countless times and even made multiple death threats, yet she hasn’t been disbarred. The Supreme Court is truly a lapdog of the Dutertes.)
On July 25, the SC ruled that the impeachment complaint filed against the vice president was unconstitutional. Thirteen justices voted in favor of the ruling, saying it violated her right to due process and broke the one-year rule, which means no impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one year.
The court clarified that it was not clearing the vice president of the accusations against her, but said that any new impeachment complaint can only be filed starting February 6, 2026.
Gadon, who is known for his controversial statements, said he now regrets supporting the Dutertes. He urged the court to file its own disbarment case against Vice President Duterte for her public outbursts and threats.
Last year, on November 23, Duterte went on a tirade during a virtual press conference where she allegedly threatened to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, if anything happened to her. Gadon said this should be enough reason to hold her accountable.
Gadon was disbarred by the SC in 2023 after a video of him hurling profanities against journalist Raissa Robles went viral. The Court found his actions to be “scandalous” and damaging to the legal profession. He was also suspended in previous years for misconduct, including cursing at protesters and making sexist remarks.
Despite his disbarment, President Marcos appointed him as Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation in 2023.
Gadon said it is unfair that he faced harsh punishment from the Court, while Duterte has not. “Pareho lang kaming opisyal ng gobyerno, pero iba ang trato. Hindi patas,” he said.
He also called on Vice President Duterte to resign before another impeachment complaint is filed once Congress resumes session. He said she no longer represents the ideals he once supported.
Gadon was the former president of the Pro-Duterte Constitutional Reformers to Federalism (PDu30-CORE to Federalism), a group that pushed for former President Rodrigo Duterte’s federalism agenda. Today, he says he no longer stands with the Dutertes.
As of this writing, the Office of the Vice President and the Supreme Court have not responded to Gadon’s statements. DEF